Southern Illinois University
Creighton
Preview | Salukis Open Season at Texas State Tournament
02/08/2024 | 4:48:00 | Softball
San Marcos, Texas - Southern Illinois softball opens its season this weekend at the Texas State Tournament in San Marcos, Texas. The Salukis will play a total of five games beginning on Friday, February 9 at 10 am against former Valley foe Creighton. Following the season opener with the Bluejays the Salukis will then take on UTSA, University of Texas San Antonio for a scheduled 2:30 PM start.
The Dawgs are coming off of their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Missouri Valley Tournament at Charlotte West Stadium a season ago. From that 2023 Salukis team, they return all but three players including six All-MVC members who return in 2024.Â
SIU was selected to finish second in the league as UNI was tabbed as the preseason favorite for the third-straight season. Four Salukis were named to the Preseason All-MVC Team - Madi Eberle (P), Jackie Lis (SS), Elizabeth Warwick (OF), and Emma Austin (OF). The Salukis were one of just three Valley teams to have more than one player named to the list.Â
Among the Salukis 17 returners are eight seniors who have compiled exactly 100 wins over the last three seasons, including a pair of MVC Tournament Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.Â
The Salukis' 17 returners are joined by a group of five freshmen all ready to make an immediate impact. In the circle, the Salukis added Maddia Groff who holds Nebraska's high school career strikeout record with 1024 along with two-way player Kiana McDowell who had an impressive fall season both at the plate and on the rubber. SIU also added catcher Rylinn Groff, twin sister of Maddia, who was also named to the Nebraska All-State team during her senior season along with outfielder Katherine Johnson and infielder Amanda Knutson. Johnson, another Nebraska native and travel teammate of Maddia and Rylinn, also made her way on the Nebraska All-State Team. Knutson comes from a very successful high school athletic career, leading her school to a 44-4 record during her final two seasons while also winning a State Championship in powerlifting in the state of Kansas.Â
Following day one, the Salukis will then play Northwestern State at 10 AM and host Texas State at 2:30 PM before one final game Sunday morning at 10 AM once again against the Texas State Bobcats. The Salukis game on Sunday will be on ESPN+ with the rest of the games being covered by live stats and Saluki Softball social media pages in the links found below.Â
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Softball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball and on Instagram at @SIU_Softball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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